Grant Strategy, Pitch Mastery and Founder Communication with Kat Weaver

What if the smartest move isn't chasing venture capital but winning grants for credibility and cash first? Kat Weaver is a serial entrepreneur and exited founder who built Locker Lifestyle from her college dorm room into a nationally recognized brand featured on Good Morning America before selling it in 2022. Through Power to Pitch, she has helped founders secure over $70 million in grants and venture funding by mastering what she calls "fixable communication skills."Tune in as Kat explains her grant-first strategy for early-stage founders and the specific communication framework that helped her win 22 of 23 pitch competitionsIn this episode, we explore:(01:58) Kat Weaver's background and how Locker Lifestyle started by accident(04:19) Winning 22 of 23 pitches and discovering a repeatable system(09:35) The four traits Kat screens for in every founder she works with(11:17) What the most successful founders do differently to secure capital(13:26) How Power to Pitch works: from capital calculator to funding strategy(18:35) Why information tells but stories sell, and how Kat's script blocks method works(24:06) Grants vs. venture: why founders under $1M ARR should start with grants(28:32) Why Kat calls venture capital "Plan F" – and the 75% failure stat behind it(33:22) Reviewing 3,600 pitch materials and training AI to find the gaps(36:23) Kat's team AI rule: ask the AI before asking anyone else(39:12) Building a team: how Kat learned to lead and delegate at Power to Pitch(39:53) The book that changed how Kat made her first hire – Buy Back Your Time(43:01) The Shark Tank manufacturer story and the power of paying it forwardResources mentioned:Power To Pitch: https://powertopitch.com/ Kat Weaver on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatweaver Kat Weaver on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katweaver Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell: https://www.buybackyourtime.com FedEx Small Business Grant Contest: https://www.fedex.com/en-us/small-business/grant-contest.html Y Combinator Pitch Deck Outline: https://www.ycombinator.com/library/2u-how-to-build-your-seed-round-pitch-deck Airbnb Original Pitch Deck: https://www.slideshare.net/ryangum/airbnb-pitch-deck-from-2008 Progressive Insurance Entrepreneurs Program: https://www.progressive.com Enjoyed this episode?If this episode resonated, subscribe to the podcast and share it with a friend navigating career, family, or creative transitions. Leaving a review helps more people find these conversations.